GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday she “absolutely” trusts the jury in E. Jean Carroll defamation case against former President Trump but that the recent ruling should not bar him from the ballot.

“I absolutely trust the jury. And I think that they made their decision based on the evidence. I just don’t think that should take him off the ballot,” Haley said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

“I think the American people will take him off the ballot. I think that’s the best way to go forward, is not let him play the victim. Let him play the loser. That’s what we want him to do at the end of the day,” the former United Nations ambassador continued.

On Friday, a jury ordered Trump to pay $83.3 million for defaming Carroll in 2019 when he denied the writer’s accusation he sexually assaulted her in the mid-1990s. Trump said he will appeal the verdict. Earlier, a separate jury found the former president liable for sexual abuse in a defamation trial last year with Carroll over a separate comment and ordered him to pay $5 million.

  • jballs@sh.itjust.works
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    9 months ago

    Exactly. I can’t help but think this whole exchange was an attempt to muddy the waters on why he should be kept off the ballot (as you said, for trying to overthrow the government, not for being an asshole rapist):

    When pressed further Sunday by host Kristen Welker on whether the recent ruling should disqualify Trump in the race, Haley said it’s up to the voters to decide.

    “I don’t think he should be taken off the ballot. I think the American people will decide if he’s disqualifying or not. We don’t do that, Kristen, in America,” Haley responded. “Anybody that wants to run can run. And I think that’s really important. We have seen a lot of people try and infringe on our freedoms and our democracy.”

    • Billiam@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Remember, Haley has already said she would pardon Trump if she is elected. She’s saying whatever she thinks will get those miscreants to not notice she’s a brown woman and vote for her.

      • mriguy@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Yeah, good luck with that, Nikki. They’re stupid, yes, but they’re very good at racism and misogyny.

    • Tarquinn2049@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      Yeah, being a rapist isn’t enough, he’s not some do-good Democrat. His constituents practically -expect- him to be a rapist.

    • Wrench@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      “Anybody that wants to run can run. And I think that’s really important. We have seen a lot of people try and infringe on our freedoms and our democracy.”

      Unless you’re black. Then they’ll try to make up lies about your birth certificate and also try to disqualify you for being born on an island (that is a full US state).

      Anyone know if Nikki is on record at some point pushing birther conspiracies?